Thoughts and Reflection on My First Marathon
I spent a year and a half running half marathons, I then promoted myself for a full marathon.
When I started running, I had no idea that one day I would be running a marathon. I was just looking for a way to lose weight after giving birth on my second child. As I ran more and more, I found myself wanting to push my limits and see how far I could go.
Last year (2025) around August I registered for my first marathon, which was last month (January 2026) on the 25th in Benoni, South Africa. I was so excited and began my training well within 5.5 months. I had tried to stick to the training plan and better nutrional intake and 15–20km runs in between. I mean, talk about putting the mileage on my legs. I tried.
Fast forward to the race day, Johnson Crane Marathon — I was on pain killers, taken the previous night due to my wisdom tooth removal. I had the most painful tooth removal during that week. 3 days before… so in the morning I didn’t bother to eat because, girly is not a morning person and couldn’t eat anything besides liquids because of the “cave” hole on my gum socket. It wasn’t a train smash, it didn’t get me worried about running a whole 42 kilometers. What was worrying is the thought of how long the distance is, the fact that it is double the 21.1km — I can’t quite imagine it because I have never done it.
First 5km was hard as usual, I was running slow — so I can save my energy for the last 12km. At 10km mark, the body was warm and fallen on “we are taking it home” mode and the mind aligned with the spirit. I wasn’t too stressed, I had my legs and strength under control… until at 26 to 29km — that’s where it dawned to me ukuthi, no man, we’re here to run and it is taking forever. So I ran, had discussions with my brain sending signals that were obviously ought to be ignored. I had a tummy ache but nothing alarming besides crossing fingers that I mustn’t be in need of the toilet to let everything out.
Supporters are a great bunch hey, being there and cheering runners. The 42km is a quiet and lonely distance to take, that stuck with me at 25km — fellow runners aren’t even excited like they were at 15km.
Now we’re grinding at 30 something km — silence and then a moment later when approaching water points seconders would shout, “you’re almost done top runner”. That time I just want to be done. I don’t want no small talk — give me water and a banana let me pass in peace with my Temu fitness.
“C.O.A.R” — someone shouted behind me, “C.O.A.R” she shouted again, and then it clicked, they’re saying that to me, I am the host of Canvas Of A Runner, that is Shaida “Makhi” Thungo greeting me from behind with her Sub-Halala bus. I was excited to see her and her crew she was pacing. I climbed her bus, luckily they were walking I got to catch a breather. Although her walks are likely at 8.08 /km pace or less… I decided I will just run this one because I am failing at walking her pace. I stayed on her bus for less than 2km — I got dusted and left behind, my level of fitness wasn’t leveling. I said to myself, one day I will finish a marathon race with Makhi. I got left behind and started questioning myself why can’t I keep up, my brain, legs and core we are all debating manje…but I told them we’re doing this, we will reach that finish line at 42.2km.
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I cannot stress this enough, running is not easy, at some point I felt like my feet or running shoes — everything is on fire 🔥, all toes felt like they’re falling off. I wear size 5 although my running shoes are 1 size up and it is ASICS — so there’s room for my feet to expand and all. My sports bra was not being a bra to me, it was peeling my skin (yangixebula). I took note to why people put vaseline in all places you can think of, I thought one needs vaseline mostly on ultra marathons, boy I thought wrong. Each water I asked and ate ice, like I am eating a packet of Lays — at water points I’d ask for a big block of ice and carry it as umphako. The sun was blazing hot because it was way beyond 10am.
I met a lady on the way that became my pacer, we ran together for the remainder of 12km until we finished. It does help to run with someone. It does help to follow a training plan and stick to it. Eating for running is quite important too, less worries about “I am running to lose weight”. More focus on strength training and putting in the milage and being consistent. It does help to be open minded and ready for lessons if you going to be attempting your very first marathon.
Running is not easy, I ran the damn miles to the end. I finished, I was happy. Although I was unhappy about the fact that I spent 6h48m on the road… I wanted to finish at 5h59 -worst case scenario- but I went beyond. I now plan on running another one in 8 months so I can improve my time, this time I am aiming for a 5h30m finish, wish me luck 🍀
Thanks for reading, see you on the next one!
